The Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) announced that it has opened the mission of bringing an example from Mars, Tianwen-3, which was planned to be launched in 2028, to international cooperation. According to a statement on March 11, worldwide research teams may be involved in the project with loads or independent scientific instruments that may contribute to the scientific goals of the task.

Example collection race from Mars

The biggest purpose of the Tianwen-3 mission is to bring examples from the surface of Mars to the Earth. This process has the potential to find answers to critical questions about whether life exists on Mars. Within the scope of the task, the geology of the planet, internal structure, atmospheric processes and livability will also be examined in detail.

CNSA announced that it has allocated 15 kilograms of load capacity for cooperation offers on the Earth Return Orbit Vehicle (ERO) and 5 kilograms of capacity on Mars orbit vehicle (MO). However, the projects offered by international partners should contribute to the scientific mission of Tianwen-3 and should be innovative in terms of engineering. The deadline for applications is determined as June 30, 2025, while the final election will be held in October. The flight models of selected loads will have to be delivered by 2027.

China’s call for cooperation comes at a time when NASA has delays and budget uncertainties in NASA’s own Mars Sample Return (Mars sample) program. The problems in NASA’s projects are also opportunities for China to achieve a stronger position in global space research. Because if Tianwen-3 succeeds, China will win a great prestige as the first country to bring an example from Mars.

Details of Tianwen-3 mission

The Tianwen-3 task will be held with two separate Long March 5 rockets. One will carry a landing vehicle and a means of promotion to land on Mars, and the other will include the Mars orbit tool with the orbit orbit. The launch will take place between the end of 2028 and the beginning of 2029. Samples collected from Mars are scheduled to reach the Earth in 2030-2031.

During the landing process on Mars, the experience of the Tianwen-1 mission will be used. China had previously brought examples from the Moon with Chang-5 and Chang-6 tasks. The country also plans to start a separate task with Tianwen-2 and an asteroid with an asteroid in May 2025.

The Tianwen-3 mission will include various scientific tools. MSPR to examine the lower layers of the Mars surface; Rafa will determine the presence of organic components and minerals; Penaaa will analyze the escape processes of the Mars atmosphere; Movmag will measure the magnetic field of Mars; The MIHI to map the surface composition and the MMC loads that will capture high -resolution images will be scientific loads on the task.

One of the most critical stages of the task will be the choice of the landing region. Scientists have identified three priority spaces such as Amazonis Planitia, Utopia Planitia and Chryse Planitia, who had water findings in the past. In total, 86 different landing regions are considered as candidates. During the sample collection process, thin -grained sedimentary rocks and clay minerals will be taken from the surface, and also deep drilling will be avoided by the oxidizing surface effect of Mars.